2021: "A Set Time of the Lord"
“Then the Lord appointed a set time, saying,
'Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.'” Exodus 9:5
'Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.'” Exodus 9:5
Report and insights from "Exalting Jesus Among the Nations" 21 Days for 2021
As we gathered from across the nations to "Exalt Jesus" the first 21 days of 2021, there was a distinct sense that we had journeyed into more than 21days but rather had landed in a “Set time” of the Lord. This sense was affirmed when the last worship set ended on the twenty-first hour of the twenty-first day of the twenty-first year of the twenty-first century. Such a time convergence raises one’s eyebrows and certainly raises the question of its significance. As we have been pondering all that God did, we are sharing these thoughts as they have helped us hone the vision into point clarity for the season we have entered.
What is a "Set-time?"
A set-time or mô‘êḏ; appears in scriptures 223 times. Three main biblical themes emerge around these "Set times," they define a determined season, it is a place of meeting with the Lord, and they establish God's covenant. Mô‘êḏ's first mention is when God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth,” Gen 1:14-15. In other words, set times help identify seasons. Further mention of mô‘êḏ is used to describe the feasts of the Lord, “These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord's Passover,” Lev 23:4. These are God’s appointed times to meet with Him. In fact the "Tent or tabernacle of meeting," is described as mô‘êḏ, Ex 27:21, 29:4,10,11 etc. Thus, set times are not crafted by men, but rather called by God. In such times, there is a weight of His intentionality to meet with us. Lastly, mô‘êḏ is associated with His covenant purposes. Such times are pre-determined for His covenant purposes to be established. They may bring judgment, as in Egypt, Exodus 9:5, or bring forth deliverance and promise, Gen 17:21. When Isaac was to appear on the stage of biblical history, God appears to Abram in Genesis 17 a fifth time. In the encounter, everything around Abram begins to change. God gives both Sarai and Abram a new name, Abraham and Sarah. When God changed their names, He introduced the fifth letter of the Hebraic alphabet, “Heh”, into both their names. The fifth letter of the alphabet inserted forever branded their names with “YHVH Elohim.” Five is also the number for grace. God announces His intended purpose, “But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year, “ Gen 17:21. The encounter forever imprinted their lives in the pages of biblical history and set the course for God’s redemptive purposes.
As we navigate the “birthpangs” of these times, it is important to recognize set times. They carry the weight of God’s plan. No matter how mô‘êḏ times look on earth, (usually quite dismaying), when recognized, they will always end up in His redemptive plan. As Mike Bickle teaches, “The purpose of judgment is to remove obstacles out of the way of God’s love.” Let’s remember it. A further look into the significance of 21 and key themes from the 21 days point to the platform God is building and the way forward.
What is the significance of 21?
With the highlight on 21, what does that number represent biblically? There are a lot of different interpretations you can find online, but these seem most accurate and relevant:
Interestingly, Isaiah 21 issues the call to the “Watchmen.” Isaiah prophesies of an event not only 200 years in the future, but could even have ramifications today as the nation’s feel the squeeze of the Babylonian economic, political, social systems and natural crises now afoot. Psalm 2:1 states a clear call “Why do the nations rage?” Why are they raging? The rage is pointing to the “set time.”
In America, we could sense the navigation of this mô‘êḏ through the 21 days. We are in the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims Landing, 11/11/1620. The landing is significant for it was propelled by a desire of a small remnant seeking a land where they could live and develop a community based on biblical foundations. The Mayflower Compact, written on the day they landed, formed the Constitution’s foundation written over 160 years later. Now, four hundred years later, the very foundations of the Constitution are being contended for by an onslaught of wickedness and deception waging war against this foundation. Four hundred years is significant scripturally (3):
How to navigate this set-time:
Throughout the 21 days the theme and sense of being pressed up to the "Red Sea," repeatedly emerged. Interestingly, the Torah readings for the 21 days spanned Exodus 1-13. The chapters covered God's judgments upon Egypt, and preparation for His people for a miraculous delivery. In a similar fashion today, God is inviting us into His plan for deliverance as the "heat" of battle rises in the nations and the need for His supernatural intervention is increasingly evident. How then shall we stand?
GOING FORWARD!
The call has been released and the invitation is now being issued to step into this “Set time.” A shift has occurred. The “Table is being set,” Isaiah 21:5, and a platform has been laid for Watchmen to land, sharpen our swords, and lock shields, for the purposes of God to prevail in the heavenlies. Through this platform, the call of the nations is being issued. New relationships and alignments to watch over God's covenant purposes are being fashioned to fight the battle ahead. Our eyes are firmly fixed on the horizon. The “Maranatha” call of God is being released. Come Lord Jesus.
Fred and Sue Rowe
The Global Watch
What is a "Set-time?"
A set-time or mô‘êḏ; appears in scriptures 223 times. Three main biblical themes emerge around these "Set times," they define a determined season, it is a place of meeting with the Lord, and they establish God's covenant. Mô‘êḏ's first mention is when God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth,” Gen 1:14-15. In other words, set times help identify seasons. Further mention of mô‘êḏ is used to describe the feasts of the Lord, “These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord's Passover,” Lev 23:4. These are God’s appointed times to meet with Him. In fact the "Tent or tabernacle of meeting," is described as mô‘êḏ, Ex 27:21, 29:4,10,11 etc. Thus, set times are not crafted by men, but rather called by God. In such times, there is a weight of His intentionality to meet with us. Lastly, mô‘êḏ is associated with His covenant purposes. Such times are pre-determined for His covenant purposes to be established. They may bring judgment, as in Egypt, Exodus 9:5, or bring forth deliverance and promise, Gen 17:21. When Isaac was to appear on the stage of biblical history, God appears to Abram in Genesis 17 a fifth time. In the encounter, everything around Abram begins to change. God gives both Sarai and Abram a new name, Abraham and Sarah. When God changed their names, He introduced the fifth letter of the Hebraic alphabet, “Heh”, into both their names. The fifth letter of the alphabet inserted forever branded their names with “YHVH Elohim.” Five is also the number for grace. God announces His intended purpose, “But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year, “ Gen 17:21. The encounter forever imprinted their lives in the pages of biblical history and set the course for God’s redemptive purposes.
As we navigate the “birthpangs” of these times, it is important to recognize set times. They carry the weight of God’s plan. No matter how mô‘êḏ times look on earth, (usually quite dismaying), when recognized, they will always end up in His redemptive plan. As Mike Bickle teaches, “The purpose of judgment is to remove obstacles out of the way of God’s love.” Let’s remember it. A further look into the significance of 21 and key themes from the 21 days point to the platform God is building and the way forward.
What is the significance of 21?
With the highlight on 21, what does that number represent biblically? There are a lot of different interpretations you can find online, but these seem most accurate and relevant:
- 21 can illustrate the great wickedness of rebellion and sin. After the children of Israel left Egyptian bondage they had 21 major rebellious events as they traveled the wilderness. (1)
- The number 13 and 21 are closely related. The meaning of twenty-one in the Bible is an outgrowth of thirteen. Adding thirteen (sinfulness) and eight (symbolizing a new beginning) gives us twenty-one or a number representing a new level of sin/rebellion but also of deliverance. (1)
- In the Jewish month of Nisan, God gave instructions for the Passover as He prepared Israel for deliverance, 14th-21st. On the last day, the 21st of the month of Nisan, God carried out his last judgment against the Egyptians at the Red Sea, Exodus 12:16-18. (1) The Sea split to save Israel. (2)
- For 21 days the angel of the Lord was delayed in reaching Daniel fighting resistance in Persia, Daniel 10:13
Interestingly, Isaiah 21 issues the call to the “Watchmen.” Isaiah prophesies of an event not only 200 years in the future, but could even have ramifications today as the nation’s feel the squeeze of the Babylonian economic, political, social systems and natural crises now afoot. Psalm 2:1 states a clear call “Why do the nations rage?” Why are they raging? The rage is pointing to the “set time.”
In America, we could sense the navigation of this mô‘êḏ through the 21 days. We are in the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims Landing, 11/11/1620. The landing is significant for it was propelled by a desire of a small remnant seeking a land where they could live and develop a community based on biblical foundations. The Mayflower Compact, written on the day they landed, formed the Constitution’s foundation written over 160 years later. Now, four hundred years later, the very foundations of the Constitution are being contended for by an onslaught of wickedness and deception waging war against this foundation. Four hundred years is significant scripturally (3):
- The Israelites were in bondage in Egypt for 400 years (Gen 15:13, Acts 7:6).
- The time span for the seven Judges of Israel was roughly 400 years (Judges 1-21).
- The “Divided Kingdom” lasted 400 years (1 Kings 12 – 2 Kings 25).
- The ministry of the prophets spans roughly 400 years.
- There were 400 years of silence from Malachi until Jesus was born
How to navigate this set-time:
Throughout the 21 days the theme and sense of being pressed up to the "Red Sea," repeatedly emerged. Interestingly, the Torah readings for the 21 days spanned Exodus 1-13. The chapters covered God's judgments upon Egypt, and preparation for His people for a miraculous delivery. In a similar fashion today, God is inviting us into His plan for deliverance as the "heat" of battle rises in the nations and the need for His supernatural intervention is increasingly evident. How then shall we stand?
- Call to intimacy: God is calling us into a greater level of intimacy and understanding of His divine nature and calling. “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this,” Rev. 4:1. Knowing God and His character will be a vital part of what this next season will require. In the middle of the Daniel 11 narrative on the anti-Christ, Daniel states, “But the people who know their God will be strong and carry out great exploits,” Daniel 11:32. We will be pressed and therefore called to know Him at a higher level of trust and revelation.
- Develop our capacity to love. In the challenges today, disappointments in what happens in the world or with others, it is easy to get caught up in discouragement, frustration, anger or hurt. We will need to put energy and focus on keeping our love. Jesus warns, “And because lawlessness abounds, the love of many will grow cold,” Matthew 24:12. The accuser of the brethren is rampant. Our tongues can easily slip into the grip of the enemy if we are not watchful over our words. The challenge for the Ekklesia today will be to build one another up in a most holy faith. Reject jealousy, strife, selfish ambition, and settle our hearts in full engagement with Jesus who denied himself completely, reputation and all, to die for us that we might be free of all these demonic traps. If you are disappointed, angry at those who have misrepresented you, discouraged, desiring human acclamation, intimidated and fearful, be aware these are demonic forces preventing your love from expanding. Check out 2 Thess 5:16-23! Love one another fervently from the heart, 1 Peter 4:7-8. Ask God to increase your capacity to forgive and to love. (For more information on this tricky trap: "2021: Out of Darkness into the light: The Demonic Lullaby, the Awakening or Both?"
- Call to the Corporate: God is calling us out of isolation, even within communities to collaborate at a greater level of engagement with one another and with God. There is a Nehemiah call now to build with a determined view towards the horizon with one another and with Israel. An end-time narrative is unfolding. Nehemiah 4:19-20
- Get engaged. Educate yourself on the end-times, build up your Biblical foundations in studying His Word. Also, engage yourself with the culture you are in. Know who is in government from local school boards and city councils, on up to national leadership, and pray for them.
GOING FORWARD!
The call has been released and the invitation is now being issued to step into this “Set time.” A shift has occurred. The “Table is being set,” Isaiah 21:5, and a platform has been laid for Watchmen to land, sharpen our swords, and lock shields, for the purposes of God to prevail in the heavenlies. Through this platform, the call of the nations is being issued. New relationships and alignments to watch over God's covenant purposes are being fashioned to fight the battle ahead. Our eyes are firmly fixed on the horizon. The “Maranatha” call of God is being released. Come Lord Jesus.
Fred and Sue Rowe
The Global Watch
